Any tips on this? I have kids gobbing and breathing all over my 58 day in, day out. What
to do? Is there a special spray? What about rubbing some of that evaporating hand-gel in -
but might make it smell of the stuff?

Or should I just dip the mic in a nice
big bucket of soapy water between takes, frying kids in the process?

Quote Mudchild:Any tips on this?
I have kids gobbing and breathing all over my 58 day in, day out. What to do?

The perception of health risk far
outweighs the reality, but it's not nice to have to use a smelly mic, and worse if the
previous user spat the undigested remains of his chinese takeaway stuck in his teeth into
the thing!

The grille head on the SM58 can be unscrewed for cleaning, when
absolutely necessary but beware that there is a thin piece of foam in their which
shouldn't be damaged -- it's important for minimising plosive popping.

A quick
wipe over with an antiseptic wipe should be more than sufficient for general use.
Sometimes making a show of 'sanitising' the mic is enough to put people at their ease,
regardless of the actual medical benefits. But if the grille does start to clog with oral
debris, then carefully remove the foam liner, and give it a full on rinse in warm soapy
water(I've even had to use a pin to pick out debris before now!). Just make sure that you
dry it thoroughly before refitting, and clean the foam delicately before re-installing.

Also, protect the mic's capsule with a poly bag when you remove the grille.

Between 1980 & 1985 we had a female vocalist in the band. Around every 6 months i had
to use a pin to remove hardened lipstick from the grill as it seemed to affect the sound
from the mic if left clogged up.

Definitely not calling my next band Oral Debris LOLI have two Electrovoice mikes
where the thin foam inner has perished. Is it possible to replace this with, possibly, a
little piece of 'fleece' (the sort of stuff you might use to insulate plants over winter
in the greenhouse .... I can't remember the proper name) or is there anything else you
might recommend?

I never really thought much about this until a couple of weeks ago, stepped up to a
rehearsal room 58 for some BVs and actually physically gagged - not nice over a PA. The
mic stank of stale perfume so badly that you'd have to wonder where it's been and what
it's been used for. Still, easy answer in this case, my mic, my mouth.

I knew an experimental music chap who recorded sounds from a mic placed inside the body
once. As you all have wonderful imaginations I'll stop here except to say at least he
covered the mic in a condom. I'll take the scent of latex over cheap perfume any day.cheersEric